Now THIS would be a cool way to tour Italy...

(Snipped from Hemmings...)

Pack Light, Drive Lightness Rental car company Hertz has been known for slipping some spicy performance cars into its Fun Collection fleet, and in America, customers have been able to rent everything from Shelby Mustangs to Corvettes. They’ve just announced a new treat for renters in Italy: the availability of rentable Lotus Elise SCs. Like the Corvette ZHZ in America, Hertz Italiana S.p.A. is making the Elise SC available in a special yellow and black livery, with Hertz logos stitched into the two seaters’ headrests.

Michael J. Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc, said, “I am delighted that Lotus Cars has entered into this agreement with Hertz, giving us the opportunity to make our stunning world class sports cars available to the rental market. The iconic and multi-award-winning Lotus Elise and the stunning Lotus Exige are the perfect fun rental cars for those who desire exclusive and high-performance motoring.”

Ing. Giuseppe Caminiti, Fleet Director for Hertz Italiana, said: “We launched the Hertz Fun Collection last year to give our customers the possibility to drive the cars they have always dreamed of driving. The Lotus Elise SC is one of these dream cars, and by including it in the Hertz’s Fun Collection, our customers have an opportunity to drive a real sports car. We are honoured to be able to work with Lotus and are delighted that Lotus has created personalised versions of the Elise SC especially for Hertz.”

If you’ll be traveling by car in Italy starting in the middle of July, and don’t mind packing VERY light, you too can rent a Lotus via www.hertz.it or by calling +39-199-11-22-11. - By Mark J. McCourt

Remember the Hertz Mustangs? Guys would rent them and swap the motor into their own mustang.

I don't think that little Toyota engine from an Elise would make for a good swap into a Mustang.

if I had the money, I would finish up my fiat and take to europe for a month of some fun driving.. especially to both Fiat's and Pininfarina's plants

I always thought it would be cool to buy an European car (Porsche) and get the car from the factory and do the 2 week tour and have it shipped back to the states. I gotta win the lottery quick...

As much as I like the Lotus I would rather do this if I was touring italy

http://www.happyrent.com/hrincentives/hrieng/incentives_fleet.htm

Vintage Fiats and Alfa's. Do it in style

So how much? Am I any closer to driving an Elise/Exige?

Sounds fun, but I can't fold myself small enough to fit in an Elise.

I think you can take European Delivery of a new BMW.. and it works out to the same as picking it up here.. so in essences, aside for hotel rooms and such, you get a free vacation.

Damn. I was hoping it was a Ducati 1098 rental.

RossD wrote: I always thought it would be cool to buy an European car (Porsche) and get the car from the factory and do the 2 week tour and have it shipped back to the states. I gotta win the lottery quick...

I wonder how much it would cost to get a car shipped there and back from the states? If you're talking about winning the lottery........

I will pick up my Gumpert from the factory in Germany....he he I just love that name

Those are badass

A lot of those Euro factories will set up a little cermony and tour for your brand new car, and help you ship it back to the states. Porsches website, It looks like you pay the delivery charges as if you're buy a porsche and taking delivery at a dealership here in the states... I dont want to work myself up into a frenzy so I'm gonna stop reading that website.

an elise would be an awesome rent a car. i would totaly go for that. or a GT350H. i'd probobly rather have the GT350H. not as fast, but i think its definitly got the cool factor goin